Compliance & Legal Counsel at Sirva – Bengaluru Opportunity

Why Sirva's Compliance & Legal Counsel Role Is a Career-Defining Move

In the fast-evolving world of global mobility, regulatory compliance has moved from a back-office function to a strategic driver of corporate integrity. Sirva, a global leader in relocation and moving services, is seeking a Compliance & Legal Counsel to join its Bengaluru office. If you are a mid-to-senior level lawyer with at least five years of post-qualification experience and a passion for compliance, commercial contracting, and corporate governance, this role places you at the crossroads of cross-border operations and ethical business conduct.

This is not merely a job posting—it is a window into how a multinational corporation protects its reputation, navigates sanctions regimes, and embeds a culture of integrity across 190+ countries. Sirva operates a portfolio of trusted brands—Allied, northAmerican, Global Van Lines, and Sirva Mortgage—and the complexity of its legal and compliance needs reflects its global footprint. As the business expands its APAC/Europe/Middle East operations, the Bengaluru legal hub becomes an indispensable anchor.

"The role helps mitigate regulatory risk, sanctions risk, and promotes a culture of integrity and ethical conduct across the whole of Sirva." — Sirva Job Description

This guide unpacks the role, its expectations, and the strategic value it offers legal professionals who aspire to grow into compliance leadership.

Inside the Day-to-Day: A Breakdown of Core Responsibilities

The role is deliberately broad, exposing the successful candidate to four distinct practice areas. It is designed for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and can shift gears from regulatory analysis to board governance to contract negotiation seamlessly.

1. The Compliance Engine: 70% of the Role

Most of your time will be spent supporting the Head of Compliance in building and sustaining Sirva's compliance framework. This involves monitoring and interpreting laws and regulations, including sanctions laws, which are critical for a global logistics company moving goods and people across borders. You will:

• Provide day-to-day compliance advice to business stakeholders, translating legal requirements into actionable guidance.
• Assist with regulatory filings, disclosures, and audits while responding to regulatory enquiries with precision.
• Draft, review, and update compliance policies and procedures, ensuring they remain current with regulatory developments.
• Lead or support investigations into potential breaches of Sirva's Code of Conduct, including whistleblowing handling and maintenance of investigation registers.
• Deliver annual compliance training and other ad hoc sessions, promoting a strong compliance culture.
• Collaborate with Risk, Legal & Compliance, and Internal Audit teams to identify and assess compliance risks.
• Manage compliance operatives based in India overseeing third-party diligence, sanctions checks, and onboarding.

This is not a purely advisory role—it demands operational ownership. If you enjoy investigating, training, and building controls, this is your arena.

2. Corporate Governance: The Stewardship Component (10%)

Corporate governance experience is explicitly flagged as a requirement, and for good reason. You will advise on governance best practices for India and support the operation of boards and committees for Sirva India. This includes preparing agendas and papers, drafting board and shareholder minutes, and maintaining statutory books. For APAC/Europe/Middle East entities, you will support annual governance processes, manage corporate restructurings, and liaise with company secretarial providers.

This aspect of the role is perfect for lawyers who appreciate the structural skeleton of a multinational—ensuring that decision-making bodies operate legally, transparently, and efficiently.

3. Commercial Contracting: The Deal-Making Element (10%)

Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a range of commercial contracts is a core competency expected here. You will handle Master Services Agreements (MSAs), NDAs, framework agreements, and terms of business. Beyond standard contract review, you will identify legal and commercial risks and propose mitigation strategies, ensuring compliance with data protection, consumer, and competition laws where applicable.

In a company like Sirva, contracts are the backbone of client relationships. Your ability to provide pragmatic, risk-based advice will directly impact revenue and client trust.

4. People Team Support: The Employment Law Pillar (10%)

The final chunk of the role involves advising Sirva's People (HR) team in India on Indian employment and labour law matters. This includes employee relations issues, workplace investigations, and monitoring legislative developments. You will also liaise with external counsel on labour litigation where necessary. For lawyers who enjoy people-centric legal work, this adds a fulfilling human dimension to your practice.

Who Should Apply? Qualifications and Desired Profile

Sirva has set a clear bar: minimum 5 years PQE. But experience alone is not enough. The ideal candidate will have exposure to corporate governance frameworks and company secretarial work, prior compliance experience, solid drafting skills, and a working knowledge of Indian employment law. In-house experience is a plus—meaning you've already learned how to balance legal purity with business pragmatism.

Behaviourally, Sirva seeks a lawyer who is collaborative, responsive, proactive, and solutions-oriented. You must be able to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and help business leaders identify preventative and corrective measures to reduce risk. High integrity and ethical standards are non-negotiable.

"Ability to help leaders within the business identify potential preventative and corrective measures to reduce risk." — Key Success Factor

Why This Role Is a Launchpad for Compliance Leadership

Compliance is no longer a peripheral legal discipline. In the aftermath of global financial scandals, shifting sanctions frameworks, and evolving ESG expectations, companies need lawyers who can embed ethics into operational DNA. This role gives you that exposure at a top-level corporate stage.

You will report directly to the VP and Assistant GC, Head of Compliance, giving you a seat at the table where strategic decisions are made. The cross-functional collaboration with Risk, Internal Audit, and the People team means you will build an internal network that spans functions and geographies. Sirva offers a hybrid working model and fosters a culture of trust and communication, making it an attractive employer for those seeking work-life balance without compromising on professional growth.

Career Trajectory: From Counsel to Global Compliance Leader

The skills you sharpen here—investigation, policy design, training, governance, and commercial awareness—are transferable across every industry. Many legal professionals who start as compliance counsel move into global heads of compliance, chief ethics officers, or general counsel roles. The APAC/Europe/Middle East scope of this position is particularly valuable because it exposes you to multiple regulatory regimes, making your expertise globally portable.

If you are passionate about ethics and governance, this role is one of the most comprehensive compliance counsel positions available in Bengaluru today.

How to Prepare a Winning Application

Given the competitive nature of in-house roles (Sirva reports 165 applicants for this posting), you need a strategy that makes your application stand out.

• Tailor your CV: Highlight specific compliance programmes you have built, investigations you have led, and contracts you have negotiated. Use numbers—quantify the value of contracts, the number of investigations resolved, or the size of the employee base you advised.
• Show governance depth: Even if your current role is transaction-heavy, mention any board support, corporate secretarial work, or statutory compliance you have performed. This role values that singular skill highly.
• Prepare for behavioural questions: Sirva will likely ask about a time you handled a whistleblowing complaint, managed a regulatory audit, or advised on a difficult employment matter. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your examples.
• Network strategically: If you have LinkedIn connections at Sirva, don't hesitate to ask for a referral. LinkedIn data suggests referrals can increase your chances of interviewing by 2x.

Your cover letter should convey that you understand Sirva's global footprint and are excited by the opportunity to build trust across cultures. Mention your familiarity with sanctions and cross-border compliance, and express genuine enthusiasm for the relocation and moving industry's unique legal challenges.

What Sirva Offers in Return

Compensation is described as competitive, with incentive plans and a comprehensive benefits package. The company emphasises workplace flexibility, generous vacation, and a wellness program. But beyond tangible perks, you get the chance to work for a brand with an international reputation and a culture that values collaboration and mutual respect. As Sirva says, "You can make colleagues, connections, and friendships the world over."

For lawyers who want to move beyond the law firm grind and become a strategic business adviser, this compliance counsel role at Sirva is an opportunity to do exactly that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the application deadline for this role?
Sirva has not specified a formal deadline on the LinkedIn job posting. The listing was posted 3 days ago and had already attracted 165 applicants. Given the volume, interested candidates should apply immediately. The role may close once a suitable candidate is found.

Q2: Is this role open to candidates without prior in-house experience?
Yes. In-house experience is listed under 'Desirable,' not 'Required.' However, you must have at least 5 years PQE and demonstrate exposure to corporate governance, compliance programmes, commercial contracts, and Indian employment law. Candidates with a mix of law firm and secondment experience can also be strong fits.

Q3: What does a typical day look like in this role?
A typical day is varied and fast-paced. You might start by reviewing a sanctions list update, then join a board committee call for Sirva India, review a vendor MSA after lunch, and finish by advising the HR team on a workplace investigation. The role is 70% compliance, with the remainder split across governance, contracts, and people support.

Q4: How can I request accommodation during the application process?
Sirva is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. If you need such accommodation, email HRSirva@Sirva.com with the nature of your request and your contact information. This is a direct line to Human Resources, separate from the job application portal.